Motorized drink mixer



OC. 6, 1953 W A ERNST MOTORIZED DRINK MIXER Filed Sept. l5, 1950 :inventor A57E/vs 7- /qETHUg W A. ERNST MOTORIZED DRINK MIXER Oct. 6, `1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l5, 1950 w m 4m VIIJ, .I n E e r ...u M

(Ittornegs Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE MQTORlZED DRINK MIXER W Arthur Ernst, Racine; Wis- Application September 15, 1950, Serial No. 184,956

(CL S10-68) 18. Claimsv This invention relates to improvements in motorized drink mixers.

Convention-ally, motorized drink mixers of the type with which this invention is concerned in-` Qlude a stable base and a column at the top of which a motor is supported. Thev shaft of this motor, or a shait with which the motor is in driving connection is on a substantially vertical axis Iand its projected lower end is provided with an agitator receivable into a cup or container which is supported either on the base or upon some other support adjacent the column.

Among the problems, with the solution of which this invention is concerned, are those which arise because of the complicated assembly operations incident to the final assembly `of heretoiore conventional mixers; because of the diiiiculty of servicing previously known mixers when electrical or mechanical failures occur; and because materials and method of manufacture required by preferred materials have heretofore ruled out the kinds of materials upon which porcelainized surfaces could be provided. The objects of this invention are to meet these prob-` lems above set forth and others as will be apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the complete beverage mixer embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along a median vertical line through the mixer shown in Fig. 1 and showing a cup or a container for material to be mixed-said container being likewise shown in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view in perspective showing a fragmentary Partien of the tonof'the. column, the complete motor mounting and cons trol head for the column, and the hood vfor the head.

Fig. 4 is a section on a horizontal plane near the middle of the motor in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-f6 of Fig. 2.

Like parts are designated by the same refers, ence characters throughout the several views.

In accord with this invention, a stable base constitutes a separate casting I0 shaped as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, with provision at II for suitable rubberflike feet to protect the surface upon which the mixer is supported and to provide a certain amount of resilient cushion: ing to deaden vibration. The upper surface of the base lo is provided with a web l? marginally machined t0 receive the lower margins, of GQ1- umn I 3-said margins being exteriorly framed by rib I 4 adapted to conceal the joint between the base and column and to provide means for ex. cluding moisture from the joint. The column and the base lare joined by screws I5 extending through the web into bosses I6 formed interiorly integral with the side walls of the column I3. The screws are thus readily accessible through the open base I il and assembly is thus facilitated. Web I 2 may be apertured to provide passage of electric wires not shown.

The top of the column I3 is shaped as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 and provides a substantially plane top surface with threaded screw holes 20 and 2I at either side of an aperture 22. This aperture is shaped to receive the control switch for the mixer as will be hereinafter de. scribed.

Mounted upon the top of the column by means of screws 25 and 2 6 extending through a web 21, is the head 30 with which said web 2 1 is integral. This will hereinafter be referred to as a head casting although obviously it may be stamped or Otherwise fabricated. It is in this head casting, shaped as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 that the motor and motor controls for the mixer are assembled and mounted as a separate assembly operation. It will be noted that this head casting 30 is made up of three major structural portions: namely, a column attaching and switch housing portion 3l at the rearward end of the head, a motorhousing portion 32 at the forward end, and a motor mounting and switch control mounting 33 shaped as a partition-like member between the portions 3l and 32. The portions 3| and 3,2 are somewhat cup-shaped and the upper rim is shouldered at 34 to provide a flange 35 comprising an upper lip.

A dome-like cover 3S for the head casting 3B is shouldered around its lower margins at 3 1 to provide a flange 38 adapted to be marginally juxtaposed with the flange 35 of the head casting, but the two anges 35 and 3 8 are held in their assembled relationship by ears 39 formed integrally with the cover 36 and so shaped as to be received within flange 35. Screws 40 in countersunkv position in holes 4I may hold the cover in assembled relationship to the head casting 30. Other ears 391 are positioned at either side of the portion 3l of the head casting but they need not be provided with screw fastenings. When so assembled as shown in Fig. 3, a finish band 45. is receivable against the anses 35 and 38 and wrapped around the head casting and cover as will be described below.

Referring now to the head casting and the assembly of motor and control devices in it, it will be seen that the partition 33 is positioned and so shaped as to provide a mounting for motor 56 secured by the screws 5l and 52. The motor shaft 53 is pointed downwardly and extended through an opening in the head casting. Any form of mixer shaft 55 is attachable upon the motor` shaft 53-the particular mixer shaft and mixer element 56 being no part of the present invention but constituting the subject of a separate patent application copending herewith.

On the back side of the partition 33 I mount a control device comprising floating switch actuator device 63. The back face of the partition 33 is vertically channelled, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. Into this channel the o-ating switch control device 6G is received and held by screw 6l at the extreme top portion thereof, the side margins of the channel-shaped partition being shaped to hold the device in alignment for its functional operation now to be described.

The switch actuator device 66 has a tube with a slotted rear wall at 62. A plunger 63 to be actuated by the lip of a container is shaped to move freely up and down in the tubular device. It has a switch actuating arm 64 secured to the plunger and extending through the slot 62 rearwardly into the chamber provided by the portion 3l of the head casting. Within the tube of the device 6i] and between the screw 6I and the plunger 63 is a compression spring 65 which is thus positioned to bias the plunger 63 to the extreme of its downward position. This is determined by the lower margin of the slot 62 which acts as a stop for the switch actuating arm 64. The lower end of the plunger 63 extends through an opening at 66 in the web Z'l forming the iioor of the chamber 3l, and the lower end 38 of the plunger 63 is so shaped as to be engaged by the lip of a container such as the container 69V shown in Fig. 2. Thus when the container 69 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, the plunger is thrust upwardly against the base of spring 65 and switch actuating arm 64 is raised from its extreme lower position to the position shown in Fig. 2.

An aperture at 'i6 in the floor 21 is shaped to receive a mounting sleeve 7| of switch 72 and the switch body bearing against the underside of the floor 2l Vis held in mounted position against the floor by a lock nut 13 in a manner well known in this art. Thus the switch 'l2 which is of the push button variety has its actuating button 14 disposed in the oath of movement of the switch actuation arm "4 as will be apparent from an examination of Figs. 2 and 4. This switch l2 has its push button 'lbiased upwardly to Vswitch closed position by an interior spring (not shown) which is too weak to overcome the weight of the plunger 63, switch actuating arm 64 and the bias of the spring 65. Thus when the switch actuating arm 64 is'thrust upwardly as shown in Fig. 2, the

switch automatically closes and the electricall connections can energize motor 50, but when the cup or container 69 is removed from the position shown in Fig. 2 and the plunger 63 with its switch actuating arm VSil descends under the bias of spring 65, the switch button 'lll is pushed downl casting (see Fig. 4), and screws 16 are used to secure the band in this position. Other screws at 17 may be used to hold the finish band in conformity with the contours of the outside of the head casting and cover.

It will be noted that the anges 35 and 38 are relieved at 18 and 19, respectively, and immediately interiorly of the relieved portions of the flanges at the front of the motor 56 there is mounted a light socket and light bulb 8l to illuminate the portion of the finished band exposed tothe light by these relieved portions of the anges. Thus if the name of the mixer, or the name of the proprietor of the store where the mixer is used is inscribed upon a transparent or translucent nish band 45, the legend will be illuminated and strikingly displayed when the light bulb 8| is energized simultaneously with the energization of the motor 50 during the operation of the mixer.

From the above description it will be seen that as a result of this invention the manufacture and assembly of these mixers is markedlysimplied and expedited. I have not shown the precise wiring of the electrical units pertaining to the mechanism since the wiring is quite conventional, and the wires themselves have ample room within the column and within the portions 3| and 32 under the cover 36. However, attention is called to the fact that the motor, switch and light with the actuating parts for the control thereof are all assembled to a single unitary membernamely, the head casting 30, and it is possible in the assembly operations to bring to a final assembly station all of the motor and control devices attached to the head casting 36 n readiness for assembly with the base IB, column I3 and cover 36.

Final assembly involves merely placement of the column i3 upon the base, and insertion of the screws I5, the application of the head casting upon the column and the insertion and tightening of screws 25 and 26, and finally the application of the cover 36 and the finishing band with their respective screws 33, 'I6 and 11.

As to each of the several castings involved they are admirably shaped and contoured for easy casting operations, simplified machining operations, and completely satisfactory sanitary condition in final assembled relationship, as will be readily apparent now that the invention is disclosed. Even if the entire group of members comprising the frame and cover are made of such material as cast iron, which is preferred where the surface is to be porcelainized, the shape of the parts is such as to facilitate the casting operations; as will be clear to those skilled in thisv art. Y I claim:

1. In a motor driven mixer, the combination4 and disposed in the motor housing portion and' projecting thereabove, said motor having a mixercarrying drive shaft extension projecting downwardly through said opening and dependent on said motor for position, and a convex closure for said head member detachably connected thereto and covering said wider portion and enclosing thev K upper portion of the motor.

2`. The device of claim 1 in which the head member and closure have parts in bearing engagement and respectively have shoulders above and below said parts, together with a band encircling said parts between said shoulders and concealing the joint between said parts.

he device of claim 1 in further combination with transverse web means spanning said head member and having means fixing said motor to it.

4. The device of claim 3 in further combination with a switch mounted in said head member', said switch and motor being wired in series iii said member independently of said column and closure.

5. The device of claim 3 in further combination with a switch mounted on said head member in wired connection with said motor, and a switch actuator comprising a reciprocable part depending beside said cloumn and for which said head member is provided with guide means and an opening.

6. In a motorized mixer, a head unit comprising a housing wall, a web dividing the housing into a motor chamber and a control chamber, a motor mounted on said web and a control mounted on the other side of said web in said motor chamber and control chamber respectively, a switch having an actuating button in said control chamber, said control comprising a plunger projecting downwardly from said housing and adapted to be engaged by a receptacle beneath said head, and means actuated by said plunger to actuate the button.

7. The device of claim 6 in further combination with a column having means for mounting the head unit thereto, said column and head unit being provided with registering apertures and means for mounting said switch on one of said units in said apertures.

8. The mixer of claim 1 having a severable cover for the head unit, said head unit and cover being severable along a line providing a mountingI for a light transmitting nish band and a light mounted in said head unit and connected with the motor in said head unit for simultaneous energization therewith.

9. A motorized mixer having a support for a head unit, a compartmented head unit therefor including a control chamber and a motor chamber with a motor support therebetween, a motor in the motor chamber and mounted upon the motor support, a control device in the control chamber and secured to the motor support, said control device including a iloating switch control arm to float in a path of movement and a switch mounted to said head unit in said control chamber and having a switch button positioned in the path of movement of said switch control arm.

l0. In a columnar supported motorized mixer mechanism, a head unit chambered for motor control devices and for a motor in separate chambers and having a motor mount therebetween, connections supporting the head unit upon the column with the motor control devices chambered above the column and the motor chamber onset therefrom, a motor mounted upon said motor mounting and having a shaft directed downwardly to perform a mixing operation, a

switch control device mounted adjacent the motor upon the motor mounting and having a plunger extending downwardly between the motor shaft and the column, a switch control arm for the plunger extending into the control chamber for 6 movement in response to the movement of the plunger, and a switch mounted to the head unit and positioned between the head unit and the column with a switch button positioned to be acted upon by the switch actuating arm.

1l. A motorized mixer including a base shaped to removably receive a columnar support upwardly extended therefrom, a head unit removably receivable upon the column and having a chamber for electrical controls aligned above the column, one wall of Said control chamber being shaped to provide a motor mounting offset from the column and shaped to receive a motor control device having a plunger extended downwardly along the column, a walled motor chamber forming part of said head unit in offset overhanging relationship with respect to the column and having a motor therein mounted on the motor mounting with a shaft for said motor extending downwardly alongand in spaced rela.- tion to the column and plunger, a switch for control of said motor mounted to said head unit and provided with an actuating button biased to close the switch, biasing means for said plunger and the switch actuating arm to overcome the bias of the switch plunger when the plunger is in an extreme of movement in one direction, and means upon the column to support a container for mixable material in position to abut the plunger and hold it in switch closed position.

12. In a motorized mixer, a head comprising a portion of a housing for motor devices, a mounting erect in said head and shaped on one side to receive a motor, the other side of said mounting being channel shaped, and a motor controlling slide reciprocably guided and mounted in said channel and having a projection extending below said head.

13. A head for a mixer of the character described said head having a bowl shaped housing with outstanding lipped margin, a cover for the head having a lipped margin juxtaposed to the margin of the cover, at least one of the said margins being relieved, and electrified mixer mechanism in said head including illumination means visible through said relieved portion of said margin.

14. The head of claim 13 wherein the lipped margins are further provided with opposed shoulders, the head being provided with a iinish band having a seat between said shoulders to conceal said lipped margins, said nish band being formed of translucent material.

15. A stand for a motorized beverage mixer having a motor and motor control, said stand comprising a base, a separately fabricated column upstanding on the base and a Iseparately fabricated head mounted on the column, said head having interiorly a motor compartment and a control compartment and a web dening said compartments and comprising a common mounting for said motor on side side fof the web in the motor compartment an-d said motor control on the other side of the web in said control compartment, said head comprising a housing open at its top and being provided at its top with a shouldered flange, and a cover having a shouldered flange complementary with the head flange whereby said anges are juxtaposed when the cover is positioned on the head to complete the enclosure, and a finishing band embracing said flanges and seated against said shoulders in the closed position of the head and cover.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said web is provided with a channel opening into the con- 7 trol compartment, and in further combination With a motor control having a mounting portion Y seated in said channel.

1'7. In a device of the character described a mixer head having an integral dividing Web dening compartments Within said head, said web being provided with an integral mounting channel opening toward one of said compartments, said channel comprising a common mounting for a motor control Within the channel in one of said compartments and a motor in the other of said compartments.

18. The device of claim 17 further providedf with a cover member, said head and cover member being provided with complementary lipped 8 margins having opposed shoulders whereby upon juxtaposition of said margins said opposed shoulders dene a seat, and a finishing band receivable into said seat.

W. ARTHUR ERNST.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,513,337 Mellotte Oct. 28, 1924 1,843,315 Blish et al. Feb. 2, 1932 2,262,912 Behar Nov. 18, 1941 2,291,689 Carlson Aug. 4, 1942 2,439,059 Saffady Apr. 6, 1948 

